Aceh senior police officer dismissed, probed

Aceh senior police officer dismissed, probed

JAKARTA (JP): A senior police officer in Aceh has been removed
from his post and officially put under investigation following
allegations of human rights abuses, National Police chief Lt.
Gen. Rusdihardjo said on Monday.

Col. Yusuf Muharram was replaced as head of the Sadar Rencong
Task Force by Col. Sumantiawan, formerly Aceh Police deputy
chief, on Wednesday. Confirmation only came on Monday, after it
was first disclosed by President Abdurrahman Wahid in Hong Kong
on Sunday.

An internal investigation has been launched into Yusuf's
performance as head of the joint military and police operation to
quell an armed separatist movement and restore peace in Aceh.

A special police team has also been established to further
investigate Yusuf, Rusdihardjo said.

"We are still probing the case to determine whether a crime
has been committed or whether it was simply a case of wrongful
judgment," Rusdihardjo said after greeting President Abdurrahman
at Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

The President, who flew in from Hong Kong, said on Sunday that
he had asked Rusdihardjo to replace Yusuf and if necessary to
initiate a prosecution in view of the allegations.

Abdurrahman said Yusuf ordered the burning of people, houses
and schools in Aceh.

Yusuf's previous stints include the chief of East Timor Police
in 1996.

Hundreds of people, mostly civilians, have been killed since
the inception of Sadar Rencong operation early last year. Yusuf
was in charge of the third phase of the operation, which began in
February.

Rusdihardjo promised to follow up on the President's remarks.
"We will resolve it thoroughly," he said.

In Banda Aceh, Yusuf accepted his dismissal gracefully but
defended his record in running the task force operation.

As he was preparing to leave Banda Aceh, he told reporters
that as an officer, he was obliged to obey orders given by his
superiors, including his removal from his post.

Yusuf said he had done his best in carrying out his duty to
restore security and order in Aceh and that he had taken all
possible measures to protect the interests of Acehnese people.

"I have done the best that I could. I don't feel I have
committed any error during my time. People here gladly accept our
presence," he said shortly before his departure.

Yusuf refused to comment on the President's accusations. "You
yourselves can see what I have done here," Yusuf remarked.

Separately, six explosions rocked several locations in Banda
Aceh, Pidie and North Aceh regencies over the weekend.

"The explosions, which startled the people in the three
districts, happened almost simultaneously when Muslims were just
finishing their evening prayer at around 6:50 p.m.," spokesman
for the Sadar Rencong operation, Col. Safri D.M., said on Monday.

There were no reports of casualties or injuries.

The explosions damaged a house rented by a police officer in
North Aceh and a traffic police post in Banda Aceh.

In Pidie, a bomb and a grenade were tossed during an attack by
suspected armed rebels on the subdistrict military post in
Beureuneun, Safri said. (50/51/edt/prb)